Something sad happened yesterday, and perhaps Friends fans already know, is that James Michael Tyler, the actor who played The Barista Gunther in this classic American drama, died of prostate cancer at the age of 59.
As his agent's statement put it, "The whole world knows he's Gunther, the seventh old friend [in Friends]." ”
In fact, at the much-anticipated reunion of "Friends" in May this year, James also appeared on the show through video to meet fans and viewers.
He was unable to go to the scene in person because he was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer in 2018 and has spread to the bone.
The illness did not rob him of his love for the play "Friends", even though he had lost the ability to walk and use his legs at that time, did not want to go to the scene in person, and swept everyone's excitement, but he still chose to participate in it in some way and let "Gunther" return.
James really loves the character of Gunther, and even after the show ends, he is called "Gunther", and he is happy.
In a sense, he is the seventh old friend in "Friends", the soul of Central Perk, and in addition to the six main actors, he is the most frequent character in "Friends", a total of 236 episodes, he appeared in 185 episodes.
More appearances than "OMG" Janice, Rose's ex-wife Carol, Rose's ex-wife's current wife Susan, Phoebe's husband Mike, and Rose and Monica's parents combined.
Although he only acts as a background board in the coffee shop most of the time, as he interacts with the group of six little by little, he also brings us countless joys.
Many people may not think that James first got the role of Gunther because he really could operate the coffee machine.
At the time, he was a barista at a coffee shop in Los Angeles, and he was only involved in "Friends" as a background actor in Central Perk, and he had no sense of existence.
According to statistics, he did not have a single line in the first 33 appearances in the play, and by the end of the play, he was already a "resident role" in people's minds.
This shy and a little eccentric barista, with the brightest platinum hair color in the whole coffee shop, likes to wear some brightly colored shirts with high saturation,
He has a crush on the bright and generous Rachel, but he is "hard to open his heart", saying "I love you" countless times in his heart, and his mouth can't say it well, so he has made a lot of jokes.
We can sometimes understand his intentions from his inner monologue.
Once, he handed Rachel a cup of coffee and thought silently, "Rachel, let's go to the movies one day, let you go as my lover... No, no, no, that's too explicit..."
But immediately, gunther's fantasy was put into action by another man next to Rachel, a man named Mark who succinctly told Rachel about a date request.
Gunther, who heard everything in the back the whole time, although he didn't say a word, he had already won the laughter of the audience by his expression, but he had not won Rachel's heart.
Rachel cheered for making a crossword puzzle, "I did it!" I did it myself! Looking around, he found that "no one is there, can't hug and celebrate..."
Gunther heard this, ran all the way out of the kitchen, pulled away the customers who were "blocking the way", stretched out his hands in the hope of getting a hug from Rachel, and finally only one step away, he was tripped and fell to the ground.
The vague pink in the middle is Gunther, who quickly embraces the earth.
The funniest thing is that when Joshua rejects Rachel's marriage proposal, Gunther rushes out and shouts at him, "You idiot! ”
Liking Rachel in the group of six naturally means being hostile to Rose, after all, everyone knows that Rachel and Rose are divided and entangled in "Friends", and many times their love sweet is in Central Perk, where Gunther works.
For example, in one episode, Rachel sat on Central Perk's couch and listened intently to Rose's big story about dinosaurs, and Gunther thought to himself: What did Rachel really like about him? I love Rachel and I want her to be my wife.
In order to know Rachel's birthday, he pretended to solicit everyone's birthdays, rose heard him collect birthday dates, excitedly saying "Mine is in December", Gunther turned and left, leaving only a cold "Oh, whatever." ”
Of course, in addition to Rachel and the love enemy Rose, the other four main actors in "Friends" are also very familiar with Gunther, after all, their permanent residence is Central Perk, and the barista Gunther in it gradually interacts with them more.
Although this interaction is relatively short most of the time, it is still funny, especially when joey, who is more off-line, meets Gunther, and the chemistry is full.
Once, Joey found a Porsche key in Central Perk and took it to the counter to ask Gunther if it was his.
Gunther was speechless: Yes, yes, it was my key. I earn 4 bucks an hour and have saved for 350 years.
Joey came to the coffee shop to find Chandler and asked Gunther, "Did you see Chandler?" ”
Gunther: I thought you were Chandler...
He basically presents such a calm and calm person, who is a little shy and eccentric when he sees a crush, and sometimes the skill points will be filled.
One of the most famous lines, and one of Gunther's actors' favorite lines, was in the episode where Phoebe dated Robert, a man who loves to wear loose shorts.
Many people may remember the plot, this Robert not only likes to wear loose shorts, but also sits on the sofa with his legs up with a big grin.
Often let the people around you inadvertently through the loose pants, "eye-opening", like this:
Chandler, Joey, and Rose were all shocked and laughed, but they didn't know how to tell Robert about it.
And Phoebe, as his date, also found it difficult to talk about.
In the end, it was Gunther who solved the problem, killing with one blow in one sentence.
“Hey buddy, this is a family place. Put the mouse back in the house.”
"Dude, this is a family-friendly coffee shop, take your 'rats' back."
Gunther brings us so much happiness that it can be said that he is the well-deserved "seventh old friend".
At the end of the story, when Rachel leaves for Paris, Gunther finally plucks up the courage to confess his feelings for her to Rachel.
"I know you're leaving tonight, but I have to tell you I love you. I... I don't know if this will make you change your plans to leave? But I think you should know about it. ”
This time, which spanned ten years, the pre-departure confession, although there were no fancy lines, and even Gunther stuttered a little because of nervousness, and the tone was also the shyness and cramping he had always faced Rachel, but it was quite touching.
Rachel replied, "Gunser, I love you too. While it may be that the love between the two of us is not the same, I do love you. In the future, every time I drink coffee in a coffee shop or see a man with shiny hair over the sun, I think of you. ”
This passage of Rachel's parting, just at this moment, we heard the news of the death of the actor Gunther, and we will also think of you.
"RIP, James Michael Tyler, that funny Gunther, we'll miss you."
"Gunther is one of the most fun characters in Friends, sad."
"RIP, Gunther."
"We can't forget Gunther! We will always love you! Extended sincere condolences to James Michael Tyler's family and friends. ”
"Gunther passed away today. He's a true legend who always amuses us in Friends. ”
"Rest in peace, James Michael Tyler, who has failed in the battle against cancer. But he will always be our Gunther, Mr. Central Perk. ”
RIP, James Michael Tyler, we'll miss you.